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Direct immunofluorescence and immune function in patients with oral lichen planus
Fei Mao1, Yunmei Dong1, Zhen Wang1
1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
Insights
Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) aids in diagnosing oral lichen planus (OLP). OLP patients exhibit altered immune functions, with significant associations between OLP lesions and immune status.
Area of Science:
- Oral pathology
- Immunology
- Diagnostic methods
Background:
- The etiology of oral lichen planus (OLP) remains unknown.
- Investigating immune functions in OLP is crucial for understanding the disease.
- Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) is a potential diagnostic tool.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic value of DIF in OLP.
- To investigate immune functions in patients with OLP.
- To explore correlations between OLP severity and immune markers.
Main Methods:
- Enrolled 65 OLP patients and 47 controls.
- Performed clinical, serologic, histopathologic, and DIF tests.
- Assessed OLP severity using the reticular/hyperkeratotic, erosive/erythematous, ulcerative (REU) scoring system.
Main Results:
- Histopathology and DIF diagnosed 71.2% of suspected cases as OLP.
- DIF showed positive reactivity in 64.3% of OLP cases with distinct patterns.
- OLP patients had higher serum IgA and lower CD3+ cells, IgM, IgE, C3, and C4 compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Combining H&E staining and DIF is effective for OLP diagnosis.
- Patients with OLP display significant alterations in immune functions.
- Associations exist between OLP lesions and systemic/local immune status.
Background/Purpose:
Direct immunofluorescence and immune function and patients with oral lichen planusThe etiology of oral lichen planus (OLP) is unknown, our purpose was to evaluate the diagnostic value of direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and to investigate the immune functions in OLP.
Materials And Methods:
We enrolled 65 patients with suspected lesions of OLP and 47 controls. In all participants, clinical and serologic testing were conducted. The histopathologic and DIF tests were conducted in 65 patients. The severity of OLP was evaluated by reticular/hyperkeratotic, erosive/erythematous, ulcerative (REU) scoring system.
Results:
By hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and DIF examination, 71.2% (42/59) were diagnosed as OLP, 28.8% (17/59) were diagnosed as non-OLP. DIF demonstrated 64.3% positive reactivity with 2 distinct distribution patterns and 8 staining patterns. Compared to the controls, serum IgA in OLP was higher (P < 0.01), and serum CD3+ cells, IgM, IgE, C3 and C4 were lower (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis in OLP revealed correlations between REU score and IgM, IgA of DIF (r = 0.54, P = 0.026; and r = 0.56, P = 0.020, respectively), between serum IgG and IgG of DIF (r = 0.51, P = 0.038), between serum CD4+ and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+, IgM in DIF (r = -0.50, P = 0.048; and r = -0.54, P = 0.031, respectively), between serum CD8+ and IgM, IgA in DIF (r = 0.52, P = 0.038; and r = -0.50, P = 0.047, respectively).
Conclusion:
A combination of H&E test and DIF is useful for the diagnosis of OLP. Compared to controls, immune changes happen to patients with OLP. There are significant associations between the OLP lesions and general cellular and humoral immune status, localized humoral immune response.
